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Secured and Unsecured Personal Loans Explained

Some loans are used for specific purposes. Mortgages are used to purchase loans and car loans are used to secure transportation. Other loans exist for use with investments and other money-making strategies. All other loans are classified as personal loans. The use of funds from personal loans is at the discretion of the borrower. The money can be spent on anything from bill consolidation to a much-needed vacation. These loans come in two forms - secured and unsecured personal loans.

Putting Your Property on the Line

Secured personal loans do have some advantages over unsecured personal loans. When you offer valuable property as collateral to cover the cost of the loan, this provides security for the lender. Should you default on the loan, the lender has legal recourse to seize the property and sell it to cover the cost of the loan. With this security, the lender is more willing to offer lower interest rates and more comfortable repayment terms.

These advantages could mean saving hundreds of dollars in interest rates and fees over the duration of the loan. Collateral can take many forms. Many people offer their homes, others offer stocks and bonds; some lenders will even accept a late model cars as collateral. You will have to discuss what is acceptable with your prospective lender.

Getting the Cash You Need Without the Risk

These financially tumultuous times have made plenty of people a little apprehensive about the future. They may need cash, but they are unsure of the economic future and may be unwilling to risk losing valuable personal assets, such as a home or a car. Lenders realize this and are willing to grant unsecured loans. However, the only real guarantee the lender has on such loans is your promise and your signature. In light of that, the lender must do something to make the risk worthwhile.

That comes in the form of higher interest rates and higher fees. It may also mean the lender will limit the amount of money available for the unsecured personal loan. But with the economic future so unstable, the higher interest rates and fees may be an acceptable trade-off against losing valuable personal property. Also, removing the complexities of calculating the value of property offered as collateral, the unsecured personal loan process is much easier and proceeds much more quickly.

Shopping for an Unsecured Personal Loan

You are not going to find many traditional institutions, such as banks and credit unions, willing to grant unsecured personal loans. You may have seen local private lenders willing to make unsecured personal loans and you may use one of them after diligent shopping. You will want to find the best interest rates and repayment terms. Many private lenders have stepped in to cover the market that traditional lenders eschew. Their rates and terms vary widely and you can save yourself hundreds by shopping carefully.

One of the best places to shop will be availing yourself of online resources. Point you browser to Unsecured Personal Loan and you will find many pages full of lenders who may be willing to lend to you. You will have them all in one place to consider the best interest rates, lowest fees, and most comfortable repayment terms. Just be sure to check the credentials of each lender. Online listings found with the Better Business Bureau will grade lenders and offer valuable customer feedback. Be sure any page where you divulge personal and financial information is secure.

Hilary Bowman is the author of this article. She works successfully as a financial advisor with years of expertise on Military Loans for Bad Credit. Hilary publishes informative articles about Bad Credit Loans and other financial topics at FastGuaranteedLoans.com

This is the second article in the three article series on how to negotiate with the IRS on tax liabilities. The first article detailed how the taxpayer could use the option of Effective Tax Administration (ETA) in addressing any tax liabilities owed to the IRS. This article will explain how the taxpayer can use what is called Collateral Agreements to address their tax liabilities.

Sometimes in dealing with the IRS a taxpayer can reach an impasse which will make it more difficult to reach an agreement over the liability owed. When this happens the taxpayer can look to offer terms and other stipulations that are not in a typical negotiation with the IRS. The use of collateral agreements can be used to make a more attractive offer to the IRS along with other stipulations that may, sometimes, include a non-cash payment options.

The collateral agreement, in context of an OIC, may arise in several situations when dealing with the IRS. Most often this happens when the IRS believes that the taxpayer's income will increase in the future allowing for payment of the liability. However, the taxpayer may disagree with how long this increase may last e.g., overtime hours, bonuses, and the like. If the taxpayer is working extra hours at their place of employment then a collateral agreement may be feasible to ensure that the liability can be procured. This option would be based upon the future-income potential of the taxpayer to allow for a fixed percentage of the annual income, over a certain base-level amount, to be paid in addition to any original amount that has been previously offered.

The use of future-income collateral agreements are monitored annually during the five-year future compliance term for income fluctuations. Sadly, though future-income collateral agreements are not widely offered by the IRS and are not known by taxpayer's, due to Form 2261 not being readily available at http://www.irs.gov. If you believe that the use of a collateral agreement is appropriate and necessary, as the taxpayer should ask that the IRS begin to prepare it.

A taxpayer can also use a collateral agreement to break through a negotiating roadblock in installment agreement negotiations. Additionally, the agreement can be a useful tool in negotiating the deferral or forbearance of filing a notice of federal tax lien, as the IRM instructs IRS employees to withhold filing a federal tax lien if a taxpayer's has entered into a collateral agreement. This would be useful, by the taxpayer, to allow for more time to obtain the money to settle the liability. A collateral agreement does not provide additional consideration to prompt acceptance of collection alternatives, but rather calls for some performance by the taxpayer that is ensured by collateral security. This security can be in the form of marketable stocks, bonds and letters of credit, which are generally acceptable as collateral security for an agreement to prevent a notice of federal tax lien filing.

As a taxpayer, this is one of several options that you may use to compromise your liability with the IRS. By working with the IRS, with the methods that are available for use, the taxpayer can remedy their liability in a manner that is acceptable to the IRS, without incurring additional fines, fees, and penalties for failing to address the liability amount owed.

For more information, or assistance, in representing yourself in your legal matter please contact DRWelchGroup, LLC to receive the information to protect your legal interest.

View the original article here